Loud Rattle/Cold Engine

[LilRedRocket]

When I start my car in winter I get a loud, almost rattle sound coming from the driverside. It seems to come from around the water pump pulley, Which is wobbly abit aswell if that makes a difference. Once the car reaches normal temp it seems to quiet down. Anyone know what this might be? My car is a Laser RS Non-Turbo, 90' If I open the filterbox to show my filter like on a cold air intake, would I have to increase my fuel intake aswell?? It shouldn't make that much difference should it? Or will it run too lean?

 

[tsunari]

When I start my car in winter I get a loud, almost rattle sound coming from the driverside. It seems to come from around the water pump pulley, Which is wobbly abit aswell if that makes a difference. Once the car reaches normal temp it seems to quiet down. Anyone know what this might be? My car is a Laser RS Non-Turbo, 90' If I open the filterbox to show my filter like on a cold air intake, would I have to increase my fuel intake aswell?? It shouldn't make that much difference should it? Or will it run too lean?

Not sure about the rattling . . . I would look for something that is loose to start off with.

As for the intake question, opening the filterbox will only make it so you're motor is ingesting the hotter air from the engine bay instead of wherever it normally pulls from. . . And you shouldn't have to do anything with fuel adjustments, if you do end up getting more airflow into the engine, I doubt it would be more than the stock ECU could handle.

 

[luv2rallye]

It seems to come from around the water pump pulley, Which is wobbly abit aswell if that makes a difference.

Sounds like the water pump bearing is going (not unusual - when was water pump last replaced?). Try to hear the bearing sound by placing a stethoscope or long screwdriver (with handle against your ear) on the housing close to the shaft as possible. If you hear grinding it's bad. Also remove belt. If you can wobble the pulley, it's bad.

 

[DragSourceTsi]

If the water pump pulley is wobbling it's time for a new water pump. May as well do a timing belt and tensioner while your in there.

 

[LilRedRocket]

Thanks for the info... I can't manually wiggle the pulley, it just seems warped like the owner before me tightened the belt too tight. I didn't think about the bearing though. It's been like this for a while now, since I bought it. Is the waterpump hard to replace? What about the timing belt? I'm a newbie to cars! I've helped change a auto tranny in a 91 talon non turbo, If I cann take it off... 9 times out of ten I can put it on? Just the timing belt does sound tricky since there's not alot of room under the hood. People with turbo's must have a hard time! Thanks again for any info!! It will be lots of help

 

[LilRedRocket]

Now about the Filter box.. I take it HOt air from the engine is bad! Will it hurt the engine??

 

[tsunari]

Now about the Filter box.. I take it HOt air from the engine is bad! Will it hurt the engine??

It wont hurt it, no . . . just is not the best for peak performance, but a lot of people have open-air filters under the hood without any kind of heat barrier (like me for instance). But those same people usually have some sort of aftermarket air filter . . . never known anyone to remove the top-half of the stock airbox.

 

[LilRedRocket]

It wont hurt it, no . . . just is not the best for peak performance, but a lot of people have open-air filters under the hood without any kind of heat barrier (like me for instance). But those same people usually have some sort of aftermarket air filter . . . never known anyone to remove the top-half of the stock airbox.

OK.. That is good to know, Now if I am running too lean, How will I tell.. Is there a Knock or Ping Sound?? Thanks for the help by the way!

 

[Nitercr02]

I have to add a question to this... Mine does the same thing, but only whenever the car hasn't run for around 6-7 hours. I can't figure out what it is, either. It seems to let off the sound whenever I press in my clutch, but it is quite a loud rattle. When I rev my engine, it seems to delay the noise for a second, but then it comes right back, just as loud.. It could be the water pump, but I don't see why it would be, because wouldn't it make the noise constantly, rather than just on start-up?

 

[jamboy2003]

I have the same rattling, it sounds like the driverside but it only rattles when I step on the gas if I gentle push in I can barely hear it. The rattle is still there even after the car has warmed up.